Discussion on the Mechanism of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Treating Myasthenia Gravis Based on the Theory of “Atrophy Syndrome” and Its Syndrome Differentiation and Treatment

Abstract

Myasthenia Gravis (MG) is an autoimmune disease caused by transmission disorders at the neuromuscular junction. Among them, ocular myasthenia (OMG) is the most common type, mainly manifested as ptosis of the upper eyelid, diplopia, and ocular movement disorders. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) treatment for MG has unique advantages. Through overall regulation and syndrome differentiation and treatment, it can improve symptoms and reduce the side effects of Western medicine. This article systematically reviews the understanding and treatment progress of MG in TCM: MG belongs to the category of “flaccidity syndrome”, and the causes involve deficiency of the spleen and stomach, insufficiency of liver and kidney, dampness, heat, and blood stasis. The pathogenesis is related to deficiency of yang qi, obstruction of dampness by pathogenic factors, failure of closure of yangming meridian, and deficiency and stasis of collaterals and pathogenic factors. It explains the main TCM syndrome differentiation types and prescriptions and medications for treating MG. It introduces the research on single herb drugs with distinctive features in treatment, aiming to deepen the mechanism exploration by combining modern technologies in the future, carry out high-quality clinical research, optimize the integrated treatment plan of TCM and Western medicine, and provide more effective strategies for the diagnosis and treatment of MG.